EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
RECREATION/INTRAMURALS DEPARTMENT
DODGEBALL RULES
** Unless otherwise modified, all rules of the National Amateur Dodgeball Association will be in effect.**
ELIGIBILITY
1. All eligibility rules listed in the handbook apply.
2. ALL participants must show their current EMU EagleOne Card or Rec/IM membership card (staff/faculty) to
one of the supervisors on duty. Guest and Forgotten ID passes are not allowed as proof of eligibility.
3. Participants are eligible to play on one men’s team or one women’s team & one co-rec team.
TEAM
1. Teams will be made up of 6 players. A minimum of four players will compete on a side; others will be available as
substitutes.
FORFEIT TIME
1. Game time is forfeit time.
a. A failure by any team to have the allotted number of players at the appropriate game time will result in the
team receiving an automatic forfeit for the game.
b. Two forfeits will result in automatic removal from the league.
THE GAME
1. The game will be played in the Utility Gym on the 2nd floor of the Rec/IM.
2. The court will be marked with attack lines and a center hash mark.
3. The official balls will be provided by the Intramural Sports Office.
4. The standard number of balls for a 12-player game is six.
5. The object of the game is to eliminate all opposing players by getting them OUT. An OUT is scored by:
a. Hitting an opposing player with a LIVE thrown ball below the shoulders. NOTE: If a player ducks, and this
clearly is the cause for the player being hit above the shoulders, the player is out and the throw is considered
legal.
b. Catching a LIVE ball thrown by your opponent.
c. Causing an opponent to drop a held ball as a result of contact by a thrown LIVE ball. (usually occurs when a
ball is being used to block a thrown ball)
d. An opposing player crossing the center line.
LIVE (def.): A thrown ball that strikes, or is caught by, an opposing player without first contacting the ground, another
player or ball.
6. A team can regain a player that has been declared out by catching a ball thrown by the opposing team.
7. A player may block a thrown ball with a ball being held, provided the held ball is not dropped as a result of the contact
with the thrown ball. NOTE: A ball deflecting off a held ball and striking the holder is no longer a LIVE ball.
8. The game is a best 2 out of 3 series.
START OF GAME
1. Each game will start with a coin toss; the team winning the coin flip will have choice of sides to begin the match.
Teams will alternate sides following each game. The third game’s choice will be determined by a coin flip.
2. Prior to beginning a game, an equal number of dodgeballs are placed along the center line on each side of the center
hash mark. A standard game consists of 6 balls, 3 on each side of the hash mark.
3. Players then take a position behind their end-line.
4. Following the official’s whistle, teams may approach the center-line to retrieve the balls. Teams may only retrieve
balls placed to the RIGHT (as they face the center line) of the center hash mark. If balls remain on the center line after
a team has retrieved and moved their balls beyond the attack line, those balls may be retrieved by either team.
5. Opening Rush Rule – Each/every ball retrieved at the opening rush must first be taken beyond the attack line and into
the team’s backcourt before it may be legally thrown at an opponent.
Example: Following the opening whistle, a player rushes and is the first to secure a ball from the center-line. That
player must then carry or pass the ball into their backcourt before it may be legally thrown at an opponent.
BOUNDARIES
1. During play, all players must remain within boundary lines.
2. A player may be handed a ball, provided the player receiving the ball remains completely within their team’s court
boundaries. Players may not be handed a ball while standing out of bounds.
3. A player shall not:
a. Leave the playing court to avoid being hit by or attempt to catch a ball.
b. Have any part of their body cross over the neutral zone line and contact the ground on their opponents’ side of
the court; however a player may, without penalty, step on the neutral zone line.
PENALTY: Player will be declared OUT.
EXCEPTION: During the “opening rush,” many players will cross the center-line. Officials should refrain from
calling players OUT at this time unless a definite advantage is gained by the action.
NEUTRAL ZONE
1. The court will be marked with a neutral zone. The neutral zone consists of the area between the two attack lines.
2. Any player can enter the neutral zone and attack the opposing team following the opening rush.
3. Stepping into the opponent’s zone from the neutral zone results in an “out” for the attacking team.
TIME-OUTS
1. Each team will be allowed one (1) 60-second time-out per game.
2. During time-outs, teams may substitute players. Substitutes may be players who did not start the game or players who
wish to re-enter after having been declared out.
UNIFORMS/EQUIPMENT
1. Participants must wear shoes, shirt and shorts/pants.
2. Participants cannot play in sandals or boots – NO EXCEPTIONS!
3. Players may not wear hats with bills.
SCORE/CLOCK
1. The score will be kept by an Intramural staff member. If this is not possible, then the teams will designate someone to
keep score for each game.
2. A 5-minute time limit has been established for each game.
3. Only the official’s whistle starts and stops the clock.
4. All players are in jeopardy until the official recognizes and signals the beginning of a time-out or end of regulation
time. Exception: All LIVE balls in flight at time of an official’s signal (to end regulation time or begin a time-out)
remain LIVE, and may eliminate an opponent, until they become dead.
5. OVERTIME WILL ONLY BE PLAYED IN THE PLAY-OFFS, in the following format:
a. All overtime periods will begin with two “balls in hand” behind a team’s end line. The first team to eliminate
any ONE opposing player will be declared the winner.
b. No time-outs are allowed during overtime.
c. No substitutions are allowed during overtime.
SUBSTITUTES
1. Substitutes may enter the game ONLY during time-outs, or in the case of injury.
2. Substitutes may be players who did not start the game or players who wish to re-enter after having been declared out.
DECLARING A WINNER
1. The first team to legally eliminate all opposing players will be declared the winner.
2. If neither team has been eliminated at the end of regulation, the team with the greater number of remaining players will
be declared the winner.
STALLING AND 5-SECOND VIOLATION
The following procedure will be used to prevent “stalling:”
1. A team trailing during a regulation game must be given the opportunity to eliminate an opposing player. This requires
a ball to be at the disposal of the trailing team.
2. It is illegal for the leading team to control all the balls for more than five (5) seconds. If the leading team controls all
the balls – i.e. all balls are located on their side of the center line – they must make a legitimate effort to get at least
one ball across the attack line and into the opponent’s backcourt. If this is not done within 5 seconds, a “5-second
violation” will be called. A team may avoid a 5-second violation by throwing or rolling a ball into the opponent’s
backcourt. NOTE: Only an official may call a 5-second violation.
PENALTY for 5-Second Violation(s):
1. First Violation: Stoppage of play and balls will be divided evenly between the teams. Play will be continue with
“balls in hand.”
2. Second Violation: FREE THROW for the opposing team – a penalty in which one player is allowed an
unobstructed throw at their opponent(s) without risk of elimination. This is possible because a caught “free throw”
does not result in an “out” for the thrower.
3. Third & Subsequent Violations: Ejection of one (1) player from the offending team.
CO-REC MODIFICATIONS
1. Teams must start all games with no more male than female players; i.e. 2 male & 2 female, 2 male & 3 female, or 3
male & 3 female.
2. During substitutions, teams may not substitute a male for a female.
Fall 2010